Meaning of 'better' (Webster Dictionary)
- Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as,
a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.
- Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness,
acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.
- Greater in amount; larger; more.
- Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the
patient is better.
- More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance;
a better knowledge of the subject.
- To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities
of.
- To improve the condition of, morally, physically,
financially, socially, or otherwise.
- To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
- To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest
of.
- In a superior or more excellent manner; with more
skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry
writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits.
- More correctly or thoroughly.
- In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one
better than another.
- More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as,
ten miles and better.
- Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as,
to get the better of an enemy.
- One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit,
social standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural.
- One who bets or lays a wager.
- To become better; to improve.
Meaning of 'better' (Princeton's WordNet)
Meaning (1):
- something superior in quality or condition or effect
Meaning (2):
- the superior one of two alternatives
Example in sentence:- chose the better of the two
Meaning (3):
- a superior person having claim to precedence
Example in sentence:- the common man has been kept in his place by his betters
Meaning (4):
- surpass in excellence
Example in sentence:- break a record;
- She bettered her own record
Meaning (5):
- to make better
Example in sentence:- The editor improved the manuscript with his changes
Meaning (6):
- get better
Example in sentence:- The weather improved toward evening
Meaning (7):
- (comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
Example in sentence:- a better chance of success;
- a better coat;
- a better type of car;
- a suit with a better fit;
- produced a better mousetrap;
- she's better in math than in history;
- You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din
Meaning (8):
- (comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness
Example in sentence:- her health is better now;
- I feel better
Meaning (9):
- comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.
Example in sentence:- a deed better left undone;
- better suited to the job;
- She had never sung better
Meaning (10):
- from a position of superiority or authority
Example in sentence:- father knows best;
- I know better.
Meaning (11):
- more than half
Example in sentence:- argued for the better part of an hour
Meaning (12):
- (comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable
Example in sentence:- it would be better to speak to him;
- the White House thought it best not to respond
Definition
[ a.]